[Fabio M Costa] THE STEPS FOR USING AN EMBROIDERY MACHINE

Today we enter the heart of the matter because we will embroider a design with the computer embroidery machine! I chose a breathtaking free pattern made with four colors of thread (the steps that I will describe apparently remain the same regardless of the number of changes the pattern).

1st step: defining the location of the pattern on the fabric embroidery

This is a MANDATORY step. Be careful with the size of the pattern (observe proportions compared to the garment embroidered or object) and its location on the fabric.

Tip: If you can, print your design in actual size to visualize its location. Otherwise, please refer to the pattern dimensions of the tissue or to create you a very simple template paper.

I printed my motive, then placed the sheet under to assess its size and position.

Then only make a mark on the fabric (usually, we take as a reference the center of the pattern, but it can happen that one may need to take the edges of the pattern as a guide, when embroiders series models for example).

Step 2: placing the fabric in the embroidery frame

After scoring embroidery marks on the tissue, the “stuck” in the framework and that is where lies the thorny question, “Should I use a stabilizer material every time?”. In theory, professionals will tell you that yes, it’s better. Now I will give you my reflections on the subject.

The reinforcement does not seem necessary if:

– The fabric is thick and not likely to move in the frame (for example, upholstery fabric or denim spandex SANS);
– The reason is simple, without dense filling, and small (like embroidered monograms on my dragees bags);
– If you just want to test a reason: I do my testing on scraps of upholstery fabric (on the back if the material is printed), and I do not use reinforcement (no small savings! )

By cons, it is best to:

– The fabric is light: cotton for example;
– The structure is distorted: knitwear, jersey;
– You embroider sponge;
– You decorate delicate fabrics like organza or silk.

In these two latter cases, it is even necessary to place a water-soluble on the fabric. But I will talk next time these particular situations.

The fabric I chose was quite light and dense pattern, I stuck the water-soluble fabric reinforcement in my (with a little spritz of glue for embroidery there is no need to put too much), then j ‘I stuck my fabric and the stabilizer in the embroidery frame. To position it correctly in the frame, I used the plastic template provided. This grid allows you to place your fabric straight in the frame to check that the embroidery frame is correctly positioned and that the pattern itself is well understood in the embroidery field.

Tip: I deliberately placed the center of my most downright design possible on my part because the model is relatively small compared to my surroundings, so I can recover a larger piece of water-soluble surplus after embroidery (for reuse with smaller frames, for example, or for sewing buttonholes).

Once the fabric correctly in the frame is tightened the screw and pulling the sides of the fabric to remove any slack in the structure, it should not remain “beads” (remember to use the small key used unscrewing crowbars came with your machine to tighten the screws of the frame or even a screwdriver!). Be careful not to tighten either over, nor too soft fabric, the aim of the game is not able to make a tambourine !!

Step 3: The machine performs embroidery

It sets the framework of the machine, selects the pattern and adjusting the position of the plan about the benchmark which was drawn: by changing the position of the pattern; the frame moves, until the needle is correctly positioned above the mark:

If you have several changes of a son, put your spools in their “order of appearance” next to the machine, the color changes will be faster and be less likely to go wrong in the colors.

It sets up the can (with special yarn bobbin for embroidery), is slipped over the first color to be embroidered and you can start embroidering. It is held the line of embroidery at the beginning for a few points and then once the embroidery is started, it stops the machine to cut the excess of this thread (if you do not, it may be taken in embroidery and then it will be harder to cut).

When the embroidery of the first color is completed, the second coil is threaded and is repeated as before. This is done until the completion of the embroidery.

Step 4: Finishing

Once the embroidery, the frame of the machine is removed, loosen the screw of the frame, and the fabric is removed. We cut small son protruding on top of the embroidery, but not those below unless the back of the embroidery is visible (as a scarf for example). Reinforcing the excess is removed by cutting around the embroidery and taking care not to cut the son.

Tip: If you plan to stitch decorative stitches (as below) or a buttonhole near your cause, do not remove the reinforcement immediately, but cut it after doing your sewing because the decorative embroidery and buttonholes out better with reinforcements.

You then left to spend your fabric with water to dissolve the water-soluble (dissolves mine to 35 °).